Student loan debt is perhaps the most grueling, tiresome kind of debt that you can owe. For you to go to school, Uncle Sam has doled out money, and he fully expects to get that money back. Unlike most other loans, federal student loans are extremely difficult to discharge in bankruptcy. A man that drove to Vegas and gambled himself into foreclosure has a much more realistic chance of being capable of walking away from the situation than a student who borrowed money to go to school. Also, federal student loans have no statute of limitations and can be collected even from debtors’ Social Security Payments after they retire.
On February 22nd, 2010, the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act took effect. The CARD Act had one major purpose: to attempt to put a curb on credit card practices and set limits to the fees that credit card companies charge consumers. It was created with consumers in mind, setting limits to the amount of credit that will be available to them in this recession “for their own good.”
I sit at my desk completely frustrated with Advanta. I opened up a business credit card with them 3 years ago and made a purchase of $6500 to help build my business credit for Rapid Recovery Solution, my Collection Agency. I have paid more then the minimum every month, on time. Three months ago I noticed that my interest rate seemed a little high. No where on my statement did it say the actual interest rate so I called the company. After 10 min or so I get a live rep on the line and they tell me it is 36.1%. Are they kidding, this must be a mistake. I have over a 750 score and never missed a payment. They said they sent me a notice in Aug that they are doing this due to a change in there lending methods. It turns out this is the second time this year they did this. I went from 8.99% in Jan 08 to 18.99 in Feb 08 to 36.1% in Aug 08.
The fact of the matter is, the more time that passes between the time the payment was unpaid and the time the customer is contacted, the less likely you are to be given any sort of payment. If you’re serious about making a profit, there are three ways to handle collection on past debt; in house efforts, hiring a collection agency, or taking legal action.